Procycling brings you the colour, action and drama of the world's most spectacular sport in a glossy and dynamic magazine.
It's the authoritative, worldwide voice of international professional road racing, distributed in every country where there are English-speaking fans.
With exclusive features and spectacular photography, Procycling brings to life the complexities, rivalries and hardships of the European professional scene.

Cycling Plus is the manual for the modern road cyclist.
Whether you're cycling weekly, an occasional new rider or a Tour de France fan you’ll find everything you need.
Every issue is packed with expert reviews of the latest road bikes and gear, inspirational routes and rides, evocative features that take you inside every aspect of cycling and unmatched nutrition, fitness and training advice.

Mountain Biking UK celebrates everything that is great about mountain biking, enabling people of all abilities and ages to have a better time on their bike.
MBUK brings you all the latest news, coolest kit, plus exclusive info on the newest and best bikes that you can buy.

Here at BikeRadar we love riding bikes and we want you to, too. Besides being fun, if you want an activity that helps you get fit, makes commuting cheaper and easier or simply lets you get out and enjoy the great outdoors, cycling delivers.

If you haven't ridden a bike recently — perhaps even since you were a child — get out there and give it a go. It's one of life's great pleasures! Not only will it help keep you fit and active, it'll make you healthier, happier and possibly richer too (if you use your bike instead of your car more frequently).

We've put together a list of all the things you need to consider as you prepare to saddle up, from buying a bike to riding it, to maintenance and adding useful accessories.

Getting back on the bike

Not ridden in a while? Before heading out on the open road, take a little time to get familiar with cycling again.

Choose a quiet road or park, away from traffic, to minimise risk and distractions. There are also many introductory courses and rides to get you safely up and rolling. These courses also offer guidance on setting up your bike, riding safely on roads, and even route finding.

In the UK, British Cycling Breeze is a network run by volunteers, and is aimed at encouraging women to get cycling, and has plenty of local rides at all levels, including many away from traffic. There are also rides organised by British Cycling and social rides that are free to join in.

People often take up cycling again when their kids start to ride, and our guide to cycling with kids has lots of info to make sure this is enjoyable and stress-free for everyone.

If you have never ridden a bike, we've got some great tips on how to learn that should get you riding in around 30 minutes — though you may want to spend a bit of time practising.

Whether you're looking to ride to work, take up road cycling or head off on a mountain biking adventure, you'll never regret getting into cycling

Buying a bike

Looking to buy a bicycle? Which kind of bike is best for you? Read our helpful guide on deciding which bike to go for.

The type of bike you choose depends on what kind of riding you plan to do and where you'll be riding. Choose a bike that best suits your needs, and, if in doubt, your local bike shop will be able to advise you.

The main types of bicycle are listed below, but there are variations available for specific purposes, such as touring bikes, electric bikes and fat bikes.

Mountain bikes: designed for off-road riding and trail centres, these often feature suspension at the front (hardtail mountain bikes) or at both ends (full-suspension mountain bikes).

Road bikes: designed for fast, efficient riding on roads, comfort over long distances or for racing, and feature handlebars that curl downwards.

Hybrid or commuter bikes: these sit on a spectrum between road and mountain bikes, and will usually have flat handlebars. Some have suspension for the front wheel, while some are designed more like road bikes. These are a popular choice with people looking for a bike to get to work, particularly in cities.

Once you've decided what type of bike you want, the next thing is to get the right size. If you buy a bike that's too big or too small, you'll find the ride uncomfortable or you could end up not riding at all.

Most manufacturers will provide a guide on which bike size you should go for based on your height, but it's still a good idea to go for a test ride if you can, as that will help determine which size feels right.

Second-hand bikes are worth considering, though beware the pitfalls (especially if you're buying a bike on eBay). We have advice on the type of things you'll need to look out for including how to avoid buying a stolen bike, and what damage is just cosmetic and what could signal bigger problems with the bike. However, with a little savvy thinking you can bag a real bargain.

Do you buy online or from a local bike shop? Read this and you'll know which. There are benefits to both. Online retailers can often be a source of excellent bargains. Local bikes shops can often provide ongoing support and advice.

Based in the UK? Don't forget you can save up to 42 percent in the UK by buying as part of the Cycle to Work scheme. This scheme gives you a lump sum of money, which can be used to purchase a bike plus safety equipment, including helmets, lights, locks and cycle clothing, with the cost reclaimed through monthly deductions from your salary.

Got a bike? You might choose to get some bike kit to go with it

Adjusting your bike to fit

Once you've got your bike, there are some further adjustments you can make to get the best out of your bike and increase comfort and efficiency.

If you're a female rider and have opted for a unisex bike, we've collected the most common tweaks you might need to ensure your bike is comfortable, including adjusting the reach to the brakes.

For all riders, if you're planning on riding frequently, long distances, or have chosen to purchase a road bike, then a professional bike fit is a good idea. An expert will take specific measurements, watch your riding style, and make any adjustments on the bike to ensure you get a perfect fit. Many bike shops offer this service.

Riding

Now that your bike's sorted you'll want to get out riding. Here's where the fun begins!

For road cyclists, there are two important techniques to master. First, you need to get the hang of a good road-bike position and second, you may want to learn how to use clipless pedals. Once you've mastered clipping and unclipping your shoes from the pedals, this system helps make road-cycling more efficient — but many cyclists will take a sideways tumble or two before nailing the technique, so practise against a wall or in a soft, grassy area first.

Finally, if you're stuck for where to cycle, sites such as Strava and Garmin have many routes logged by users that are a great starting point. On the mountain biking side of things, a quick search online will help you find local trail centres, which offer selections of routes graded according to difficulty.

And, of course, your local bike shop is a fantastic place to find out where to ride, and they might even host group rides.

Read our guides and you'll soon be out there riding with confidence

Cycling accessories and cycling clothing

The other key pieces of kit you may want include gloves, padded cycling shorts, a cycling jersey, glasses and shoes. We also recommend riding with some basic repair equipment in case you get a puncture, including tyre levers, a pump and a spare inner tube or repair patches.

If you plan on wearing padded bike shorts, you may be wondering whether you should wear underwear underneath them or not. The short answer is no, as our article on bike shorts and underwear explains.

Further advice

Got everything covered? Excellent! BikeRadar will be your ultimate resource for all things bike from now on. And, if you're like us, not only will you become one of the cycling converted but you'll be keen to tell others, too.

You'll find plenty of other riders in our community forum — if you find yourself having any cycling dilemmas, just ask and someone will soon come to your rescue!

We'll guide you through the best buys no matter what your budget and how to use your new kits

Russell fell head over heels in love with bikes in the '90s, and has been involved in the bike industry ever since. Between wrenching in bike shops, guiding professionally, and writing about bikes, Russell has honed an appreciation for what works, gained knowledge of what doesn't, and can barely contain his enthusiasm for what comes next. His two-wheeled passion continues in the Rocky Mountains high above Boulder, Colorado.